ARCATA - The first tough road test of the extremely difficult 2013-14 schedule was passed with satisfactory results.  Humboldt State moves on to its next classic tournament this weekend at the CCAA/PacWest Challenge to be held at the Academy of Art's Kezar Pavilion in San Francisco this Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

     The Lumberjacks were able to end their first pair of contests on a very high note by upsetting then six-ranked and defending West Region champion Western Washington, 77-68 in overtime, in the West Region Classic at Fresno Pacific.

    HSU started the weekend off by seeing its late hard-charge fall a bit short, 71-66, to perennial power Seattle Pacific last Friday night.

    
   ** West Region Classic Wrapup **

  Jacks late-charge falls short vs. Falcons

     • In a prolific display of late game shooting, HSU's newcomer Jae Shin almost single-handedly shot the team back into the season opener only to run out of time in the end.

      Shin pumped in 22  of her game-best 28 points over the final 8:57 by making all nine of her tries from the floor to lead a furious Jacks' comeback attempt against the potent Seattle Pacific Falcons. But the Jacks fell short, 71-66, in the first night of the West Region Challenge held at Fresno Pacific University.

     The wing player finished her evening 11 of 17 from the field and six of eight from three-point range for 28 points.  She also swiped two balls and handed out two assists.

    HSU upsets #6 Western Washington in overtime

     • HSU used a proved pair of teammates with chemistry to key the team's upset victory last Saturday night.

     After playing together the past two years in junior college, point guard Kersey Wilcox and center Megan Shields propelled HSU over sixth-ranked Western Washington in overtime, 77-68.

     The upset victory was the first HSU top five upset since overtaking the number one UC San Diego, 74-73, two years ago in Arcata on Feb. 22, 2012.

     The junior pair were not to be stopped in the extra frame.  Wilcox and Shields accounted for eight of the team's 13 overtime points to help the Lumberjacks (1-1) never trail in the extra time.

    Head coach Joddie Gleason's comments on West Region Classic:

    "We played two very good teams last weekend and are extremely pleased to come away with a win over Western Washington in OT.  It is a big step in the right direction for this team, however, we have a lot of work to do as we continue to improve.  Both SPU and WWU are top teams in the West Region so the experience of playing against them will prove beneficial as we continue with our tough schedule.  If we can learn to play focused basketball for 40 minutes (or however long it takes) then we will be a very good team. 
   Right now there are lapses in intensity and discipline which good teams capitalize on as was evident in both games this weekend.  Our defensive intensity and rotations will be a focus for us this week in practice as we prepare for the CCAA/PacWest Challenge in San Francisco."

    Wilcox garners CCAA Player of the Week acclaim

    After helping the Lumberjacks score a 77-68 overtime upset of sixth-ranked and defending West Region champion Western Washington on last Saturday night, HSU's Kersey Wilcox was named the Wilson/California Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Basketball Player of the Week.

     The Jacks' newcomer fueled the strong effort and eventual victory over the nationally-rated Vikings to punctuate a 1-1 weekend over two the best squads in the NCAA Division II West Region.
 
     Over Friday's season opener, the junior transfer contributed 13 points including seven-for-seven from the charity stripe, while handing out nine assists and pulling in three rebounds when a hard late charge fell short, 71-66, against Seattle Pacific.
 
     The point guard followed with a remarkable second contest in a HSU uniform.
 
     Trailing 49-39 almost 10 minutes into the second half, the court general registered 13 of the HSU's next 19 points to take the lead.  Wilcox netted a total of 19 points in the second half and overtime periods including a driving layup down the left side of the lane to seal the win with 50 seconds remaining in overtime and two final free throws to end the extra period.
 
    The Prineville, Oregon native banked in 23 points, handed out seven assists to only two turnovers with six rebounds and a steal.
 
    For the weekend, Wilcox averaged 18.0 points with 14 of 14 from the foul line, 16 assist and nine rebounds.

    Two other Jacks' newcomers make opening weekend presence felt

    Along with Kersey Wilcox, two other Jacks' newcomers - Jae Shin and Megan Shields - made their presence felt throughout the regular season's first weekend of action.

   Shin, a junior guard who played for Lousiana-Monroe, powered a second half charge last Friday night and kept HSU in front for Saturday's night matchup.  The wing player pumped in 22 of her game-best 28 points in the final 10 minutes against Seattle Pacific.  She hit 11 of 17 attempts including six of eight triples for the night to go with two assists and two steals.
 
   The Seattle, Wash. product continued her top notch play by helping the Jacks to the lead for the first half against Western Washington with all 15 of her points including four more three-pointers.  Later in overtime, Shin assisted on two baskets by Shields and grabbed a pair of rebounds.

   On the weekend, Shin averaged a team-high 21.5 points with 10 three-pointers in 18 tries.

  The 6-1 Shields started slower on Friday, but still finished with a respectable four points, eight rebounds and two blocks vs. Seattle Pacific.

  On Saturday, the center rebounded for a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds with the majority of her production coming in the final 10 minutes of the second half and five-minute overtime.  She also blocked three more shots.

  Shields put together averages of 7.5 points and 9.0 rebounds with five blocks for the two contests.

   ** CCAA/PacWest Challenge **

   Hosted by Academy of Art:
   Held at: Kezar Pavilion, 755 Stanyan Street, San Francisco, Calif. 94117

    Live Stats & Video of Both Games: http://artuathletics.com/sports/2013/11/11/PacWest.CCAA%20Challenge.aspx

  Humboldt State 
    #10 - Jae Shin, G, 5-7, Jr., Seattle, Wash.
    #12 - Kersey Wilcox, G, 5-6, Jr., Prineville, Ore.
    #24 - Kelly Kime, F, 5-11, Sr., Eureka
    #25 - Elle Anderson, F, 6-1, Sr., Carlton, Ore.
    #32 - Megan Shields, C, 6-1, Jr., Sherwood, Ore.

    Academy of Art 
   #10 - Jasmin Guinn, G, 5-6, So., Berkeley, Calif.
   #20 - Zoie Sheng, G, 5-6, So., Portland, Ore.
   #21 - Alisa Griggs, F, 6-0, Sr., Milwaukie, Ore.
   #22 - Sha'Nice Storey, G, 5-6, So., Portland, Ore.
   #33 - Regina Camera, G, 5-7, So., Stockton, Calif.

   Dominican
   #11 - Sarah Nelson, C, 6-4, Jr., Clayton, Calif.
   #13 - Jessy Marshall, G, 5-6, So., San Jose, Calif.
   #12 - Danielle Yamauchi, G, 5-4, Jr., Torrance, Calif.
   #21 - Noelle Roldan, G, 5-6, Sr., Napa, Calif.
   #22 - Salonika Quewon-Owens, G, 5-8, Sr., Fairfield, Calif.

  Academy of Art (2-0)

 *HSU coach Gleason on the matchup: "Academy of Art is the PacWest Conference Pre-season #1 pick and will be a formidable opponent this weekend.  We feel that we are prepared for that challenge after our tough exhibition schedule and opening week games.  They bring excellent balance at the offensive end and play full court pressure defense all game.  They won the PacWest Tournament last season and will be a confident and aggressive team."  

*Series History: HSU leads 3-1

*Last Meeting: AA won 86-65 last Nov. 9 in CCAA/PacWest Challenge at Dominican -- The two teams combined for 63 turnovers (HSU 37, AA 26)...AA scored 43 points in each half and built on an 11-point halftime lead to the 21-point final margin.  AA went on a 19-0 to break the game open and open a 25-3 lead in the first 10 minutes...HSU's Caitie Richards led the team with 17 points with four three-pointers.  Elle Anderson added 11 points...AA received 22 points on nine of 13 tries from Sha'Nice Storey and Regina Camera chipped in 12 points.

*Last HSU win: 68-54 in the second game of the 2011-12 season

*Coached by LaNay Larson in her third year

*Urban Knights finished 23-9, won the PacWest Tournament before losing to Western Washington, 70-50, in the NCAA DII West Regional

*Claimed wins in first two contests last weekend -- defeated St. Martin's, 69-55, and Western Oregon, 64-50, in Monmouth, Ore.

*Molly O'Brien and Sha'Nice Storey led AA with 13.5 points apiece in the two games.

*Jasmin Guinn netted 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds.

*Team made 72.7% of free throws (48 of 66).

Dominican (1-0) (as of 11/12)

 *HSU coach Gleason on the matchup: "We play Dominican University the follow day (on Sunday), who has a good combination of experience and newcomers on the team.  They battled Chico State well last weekend and will try to use their quickness to put pressure on us at both ends of the court.  It will be important for us to be focused and play with defensive intensity for 40 minutes in order for us to be successful.."  

*Series History: HSU leads 9-2

*Last Meeting: HSU won 69-49 last Nov. 10 in CCAA/PacWest Challenge at Dominican -- HSU held a five-point halftime lead, 29-24, before expanding the difference in the second half.  The Jacks forced the Penguins into 25 turnovers...Dominican's Sarah Nelson led her team with 17 points and 13 rebounds ... HSU had Lisa Petty have a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds with Kelly Kime adding 15 points and seven rebounds.

*Last HSU win: Last meeting ... also won the 2011-12 affair (76-51)

Head coach: Brianna Chambers in her seventh season

*Penguins finished 5-21 last year and dropped their final 11 games ... ended 2011-12 with a 4-21 mark.

*Play at NCAA DI University of San Francisco on Wednesday night.

*Fell short last Saturday at #17 Chico State, 88-60.

*Committed 24 turnovers in the game.

*Three players - Salonika Quewon-Owens, Noelle Roldan and Carly Holbroke - accounted for 10 points each

*Quewon-Owens grabbed nine defensive rebounds